XN000022-1994-06-29 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1994

REGARDING PERSONNEL DISPUTES, MR LEUNG SAID ALL THE UPGC-FUNDED INSTITUTIONS HAD ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE SELECTION, TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS AND DISMISSAL OF THEIR STAFF.

"DISPUTES ABOUT CONTRACTS OF EMPLOYMENT OR DISMISSAL OF STAFF BE RESOLVED BY THE COURTS IF NECESSARY, HE ADDED.

MAY

THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CONSIDER IT APPROPRIATE TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT BODY TO DEAL WITH DISPUTES CONCERNING THE EMPLOYMENT OF THEIR TEACHING STAFF.

INSURANCE COMPLAINTS BOARD FAIR AND INDEPENDENT

* * * *★ ★

THE WORKING OF THE INSURANCE CLAIMS COMPLAINTS ROARD HAS BEEN CLOSELY MONITORED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THERE IS NO REASON TO DOUBT ITS INTEGRITY, INDEPENDENCE AND FAIRNESS, THE SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES, MR MICHAEL CARTLAND, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HUANG CHEN-YA IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CARTLAND SAID AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF SELF- REGULATION BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, THE BOARD PROVIDED AN INDEPENDENT AVENUE FOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT FERSONAL INSURANCE POLICIES.

CHAIRED BY A RETIRED JUSTICE OF APPEAL, THE BOARD IS LARGELY MADE UP OF PERSONS FROM OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY.

LAST YEAR, IT DEALT WITH 99 CASES. BY THE END OF LAST YEAR, 67 CASES WERE SETTLED, OF WHICH 40 WERE SETTLED BY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES CONCERNED BEFORE ADJUDICATION BY THE BOARD.

ALTHOUGH AWARDS WERE MADE BY THE BOARD IN FOUR CASES, TWO OF THREE CASES HANDLED BY THE BOARD IN 1993 WERE CLOSED IN FAVOUR THE COMPLAINANTS,

RATE.

OUT OF

HE SAID THIS COULD NOT BE REGARDED AS INDICATING A LOW SUCCESS

MR CARTLAND ALSO NOTED THAT THERE WAS LITTLE EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THE WORDING OF INSURANCE POLICY TERMS PLACED POLICY- HOLDERS AT A DISADVANTAGE.

LAST YEAR, THERE WERE 30 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TERMS. THE NUMBER VERY SMALL BEARING IN MIND THAT THERE ARE TWO MILLION LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES IN FORCE.

IS

INSURANCE

A

THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN IMPROVING THE PROPOSAL FORMS AND POLICIES TO MAKE THEM EASIER ΤΟ UNDERSTAND. STANDARD CHINESE TRANSLATION OF POLICY TERMS IS BEING DRAFTED.

OF

LEGISLATIVE

A BILL SEEKING TO ENHANCE THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS INSURANCE AGENTS AND BROKERS HAS BEEN INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL, MR CARTLAND SAID.

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